With Kristian Campbell on group, how does Boston Purple Sox 26-man roster look?

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox — at the least for probably the most half — have formally departed Florida. A big contingent of gamers, coaches are en path to Monterrey, Mexico for a two-game exhibition collection with others who have been in main league camp headed north to affix Triple-A Worcester. A small group of key gamers will stay at Fenway South for a pair extra days to work out on the again fields earlier than becoming a member of the Purple Sox in Arlington, Texas, forward of their season opener on Thursday.

Supervisor Alex Cora has been unusually coy about the place issues stand relating to the 26-man roster. In truth, he mentioned there have been no roster choices to announce across the identical time the club informed top prospect Kristian Campbell that he would be part of the Opening Day roster.

In current days, the group has introduced roster cuts in drips whereas informing a bigger variety of gamers of their fates. Technically, after formally optioning righty Quinn Priester to minor league camp Sunday morning, the group has a 43 gamers left in camp, together with 11 non-roster invitees. In actuality, Craig Breslow and Co. are a lot nearer to their remaining 26-man group than that quantity would possibly counsel.

Right here’s the place the Purple Sox at the moment stand with their Opening Day roster, primarily based on motion over the past couple days, after the choice to hold Campbell on Thursday:

PITCHERS (13)

LOCKS (9): SP Garrett Crochet, SP Tanner Houck, SP Walker Buehler, SP Richard Fitts, RP Aroldis Chapman, RP Liam Hendriks, RP Justin Slaten, RP Garrett Whitlock, RP Justin Wilson

ANALYSIS: 9 pitchers are assured spots. Crochet, Houck, Buehler and Fitts will comprise 4 of the 5 rotation spots and Cora mentioned Chapman (the anticipated nearer), Hendriks, Slaten, Whitlock and Wilson are all locks for the bullpen.

After sending Priester down and releasing Adam Ottavino after he opted out of his minor league contract, the Purple Sox listing 22 wholesome pitchers as nonetheless being in camp (plus rehabbing starter Patrick Sandoval, who’s on the 60-day injured listing already). In actuality, that quantity is far decrease. 5 pitchers (Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito, Chris Murphy and Zach Penrod) will begin the yr on the injured listing. Three others — Michael Fulmer, Bryan Mata and Matt Moore — have been instructed they’re headed to Triple-A Worcester to start out the season, per sources. So the Purple Sox actually have 5 pitchers vying for 4 spots within the 26-man group. There may be one rotation spot and three bullpen openings to be determined.

Left competing for these openings are two rotation candidates (Cooper Criswell and Sean Newcomb) and three relievers (Brennan Bernardino, Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert). The No. 5 starter spot is likely Newcomb’s, although the Purple Sox might choose to go together with Criswell if he reveals them sufficient earlier than that flip comes round in Baltimore on March 31. Bernardino, Kelly and Weissert, all on the 40-man roster, are squarely within the combine for bullpen spots, although Criswell might make the group as an extended man. The choice would possibly come down as to if or not the Purple Sox need to carry an extended reliever (Criswell) or a 3rd lefty (Bernardino) behind Chapman and Wilson.

Cora seemingly received’t identify a more in-depth earlier than Opening Day, as a substitute merely selecting to let the general public know his ninth-inning alternative primarily based on who enters the sport within the first save state of affairs. But all signs continue to point to Chapman.

As at all times, the projected pitching employees could possibly be disrupted by a last-minute addition. Final yr, issues appeared fairly set earlier than the Purple Sox grabbed Chase Anderson after the Pirates reduce him and took him on their roster as an extended man.

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POSITION PLAYERS (13)

LOCKS (13*): C Connor Wong, C Carlos Narvaez, 1B Triston Casas, 2B/LF Kristian Campbell, SS Trevor Story, 3B Alex Bregman, DH Rafael Devers, RF Wilyer Abreu, CF Ceddanne Rafaela, LF/CF Jarren Duran, INF David Hamilton, UTIL Romy Gonzalez, OF Rob Refsnyder.

ANALYSIS: The Purple Sox formally have 21 place gamers left in camp however one (Masataka Yoshida) will quickly be headed to the IL. With Campbell told he’s on the team, there’s little mystery — barring a last-minute health setback — when it comes to who will be active in Texas.

Casas, Campbell, Story and Bregman will make up the beginning infield with Hamilton and Gonzalez virtually definitely on the group as backup choices. Devers is the on a regular basis DH, which you realize for those who’ve been following together with the worst saved secret within the historical past {of professional} sports activities. Within the outfield, the Purple Sox anticipate a beginning trio of (left-to-right) Duran, Rafaela and Abreu; Refsnyder is as soon as once more a depth possibility. Wong and Narvaez would be the two catchers to start out.

The one approach the present baker’s dozen of projected place gamers adjustments is that if somebody will get harm over the following few days or somebody who’s behind the remainder of the group (like Abreu or Gonzalez) suffers a setback. In that case, the Purple Sox would possibly flip to somebody like Nick Sogard or non-roster Abraham Toro. In any case, there are strikes to be made (together with seven official cuts).

The Purple Sox instructed spring star Trayce Thompson that he’s headed to Worcester on Sunday, in keeping with a supply, and others will quickly be part of him. Prime prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, as anticipated, are anticipated to affix the WooSox to start out. Depth choices Sogard (who’s on the 40-man), Toro and Nate Eaton seem ticketed for Worcester, too, even when information of their demotions hasn’t gone public but. Boston is awaiting for official phrase that veteran catcher Seby Zavala shall be reporting to Triple-A. The membership instructed Zavala he received’t make the group over the weekend however he exercised an upward mobility clause that enables any group to take him if they will assure an enormous league roster spot. Right now, the expectation is that he’ll go to Worcester.

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40-MAN MOVES

The Purple Sox at the moment have a full 40-man roster with one participant (Sandoval) already on the 60-day injured listing. They might must do some maneuvering within the subsequent couple days to get the 40-man set earlier than Texas.

Campbell will not be at the moment on the 40-man roster and must be added. If Newcomb makes the group, as anticipated, he’ll have to be, too. The Purple Sox can simply clear two spots by transferring two injured pitchers (Murphy and Penrod) to the 60-day IL within the coming days. On this case, they in all probability received’t must designate anybody for project.

If the Sox make a waiver declare or add a shock candidate like Toro or Eaton to the roster, they’ll must lop somebody off. In a a lot improved 40-man group, the highest DFA candidates — and this shall be necessary as soon as the season begins and gamers like Anthony and Mayer begin pushing for spots — look like pitcher Josh Winckowski, catcher Blake Sabol and Sogard.

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MEXICO ROSTER:

The Purple Sox are taking 30 gamers to Monterrey, Mexico for the two-game exhibition collection towards Sultanes de Monterrey, starting Monday. A bunch of normal place gamers are going, in addition to all three “Large Three” prospects. Right here’s the official listing, courtesy of the group:

Pitchers: Justin Wilson, Aroldis Chapman, Greg Weissert, Justin Slaten, Zack Kelly, Richard Fitts, Brennan Bernardino, plus minor leaguers Zach Bryant, Jose Adames, Reidis Sena, Jack Anderson, Brendan Cellucci, Christopher Troye, Shane Drohan and Eduardo Rivera

Catchers: Connor Wong, plus minor leaguers Mark Kolozvary and Nathan Hickey

Infielders: Alex Bregman, David Hamilton, Triston Casas, Marcelo Mayer

Outfielders: Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Roman Anthony

Infielders/Outfielders: Nick Sogard, Kristian Campbell, Abraham Toro, Nate Eaton

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